Danny Scheie News

California Shakespeare Theater (Cal Shakes) announced further details today for the Shakespearean centerpiece to the 2018 Epic Season, The War of the Roses. The War of the Roses is a monumental evening of theater spanning four history plays-the Henry VI trilogy and Richard III. Presented as an action-packed evening, The War of the Roses will deliver a fast-paced, far-ranging, vividly theatrical depiction of two powerful families-the Lancasters and the Yorks-and their decades-long fight for the English throne. Political unrest and power grabs collide with weak leadership and civil strife as the country fights against the threat of tyranny.

Aurora Theatre Company today announced that long-time artistic director Tom Ross will step down at the end of the company's 27th season in July 2019. When Ross departs, he will have been on staff at Aurora for 27 years, 15 of which he will have served as artistic director.

California Shakespeare Theater (Cal Shakes) today announced key artists for its 2018 Season at the Bruns Amphitheater, including the Cal Shakes directorial debuts of KJ Sanchez (Quixote Nuevo) and Nataki Garrett (Everybody).

Playwright Amy Freed has always been a Shakespeare fan. Her breakout hit, The Beard of Avon (SCR-commissioned and premiered, 2001), was a smart, funny look at the controversy surrounding the authorship of Shakespeare's plays. Now comes SHREW! (March 24-April 21, Segerstrom Stage), in which Freed has re-imagined The Bard's play, The Taming of the Shrew, as a wickedly funny love story of two people who find their way to true, deep and mutual love. Art Manke directs SHREW!, which is an anchor production of the 2018 Pacific Playwrights Festival. Tickets are available at www.scr.org.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre today announced the world premiere of Imaginary Comforts, or The Story of the Ghost of the Dead Rabbit, written by Daniel Handler and directed by Tony Taccone. The new play begins previews on Thursday, October 5 and the show runs through Sunday, November 19. Individual tickets begin at $30 and can be purchased online at berkeleyrep.org or by phone, 510 647-2949. Press night will be on Thursday, October 12.

Aurora Theatre Company opens its 26th season with Rebecca Gilman's (Blue Surge, Spinning Into Butter, The Sweetest Swing in Baseball) LUNA GALE. Aurora Artistic Director Tom Ross directs this powerful and arresting Bay Area Premiere, featuring Jamie Jones (Edward Albee's A Delicate Balance, Mud Blue Sky, Gideon's Knot), Laura Jane Bailey (Mud Blue Sky), Devin S. O'­Brien (Mud Blue Sky), Joshua Marx (TheatreWorks), Alix Cuadra (Theatre of Yugen), Kevin Kemp (Shotgun Players), and Jennifer Vega.  LUNA GALE plays September 1 through October 1 at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.

Aurora Theatre Company presents the U.S. Premiere of British playwright Steve Waters'(World Music, The Contingency Plan) hit play, TEMPLE. Aurora Artistic Director Tom Ross (Mud Blue Sky, A Bright New Boise, Edward Albee's A Delicate Balance) helms this thought-provoking new play, featuring Paul Whitworth, Sylvia Burboeck, J. Michael Flynn, Sharon Lockwood, Leontyne Mbele-Mbong, and Mike Ryan. TEMPLE plays April 14 through May 14 at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.

Merrimack Repertory Theatre (MRT) starts off 2017 with "The Making of a Great Moment," the world premiere comedy by ATCA/Steinberg award-winning playwright Peter Sinn Nachtrieb.

Merrimack Repertory Theatre (MRT) starts off 2017 with "The Making of a Great Moment," the world premiere comedy by ATCA/Steinberg award-winning playwright Peter Sinn Nachtrieb.

California Shakespeare Theater's 25th anniversary season at the Bruns Amphitheater returns to the works of George Bernard Shaw with his sharply-observed take on feminism, class distinctions, and romance, You Never Can Tell, directed by Obie award-winner Lisa Peterson, from August 10 through September 4.

California Shakespeare Theater's 25th anniversary season at the Bruns Amphitheater returns to the works of George Bernard Shaw with his sharply-observed take on feminism, class distinctions, and romance, You Never Can Tell, directed by Obie award-winner Lisa Peterson, from August 10 through September 4. For tickets and information, contact the Cal Shakes Box Office at 510.548.9666 or visit www.calshakes.org?

Merrimack Repertory Theatre (MRT) has announced its 2016-17 Season, the second under Artistic Director Sean Daniels.

Today, The Ground Floor: Berkeley Rep's Center for the Creation and Development of New Work announces that it has selected 18 projects for its fifth Summer Residency Lab featuring works from more than 30 talented artists. This June, as part of an extraordinary laboratory for collaboration, some of the nation's most prominent and promising writers, directors, designers, performers, and composers will unite at the Theatre's Harrison Street campus over an intense four-week period to share ideas, break bread, and create new plays. Dozens more local and out-of-town actors and directors will join the Summer Residency Lab, bringing the number of participating artists close to 100.

Z Space is pleased to present the world premiere commission of A House Tour of the Infamous Porter Family Mansion with Tour Guide Weston Ludlow Londonderry, a wild comedy and immersive theatrical experience created by Z Space Playwright in Residence Peter Sinn Nachtrieb. Performances run March 29-April 23, 2016. Press Opening is Monday, April 4, 2016 at 7pm.

Critics and audiences agree -THE MONSTER-BUILDER is smashing! Due to popular demand, Aurora Theatre Company announces a second extension of the Bay Area Premiere of Pulitzer Prize finalist (Freedomland) Amy Freed's THE MONSTER-BUILDER for an additional 6 performances. Art Manke makes his Aurora directing debut with this viciously funny comedy featuring Danny Scheie (The Mystery of Irma Vep), Rod Gnapp (The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity), Nancy Carlin (Hysteria), Thomas Gorrebeeck (The Eccentricities of a Nightingale), Maggie Mason (Magic Theatre, San Francisco Playhouse), and Sierra Jolene. Originally extended through December 13, THE MONSTER-BUILDER now plays through December 20th (added performances: Tuesday, December 15, 7pm; Wednesday, December 16, 8pm; Thursday, December 17, 8pm; Friday, December 18, 8pm; Saturday, December 19, 8pm; Sunday, December 20, 2pm) at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets ($32-52) and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.

Critics and audiences agree -- THE MONSTER-BUILDER is smashing! Aurora Theatre Company announces that it will add an additional 7 performances of the Bay Area Premiere of Pulitzer Prize finalist (Freedomland) Amy Freed's THE MONSTER-BUILDER.

Aurora Theatre Company presents the Bay Area Premiere of Pulitzer Prize finalist (Freedomland) Amy Freed's THE MONSTER-BUILDER. Art Manke, who directed the World Premiere of THE MONSTER-BUILDER at Portland's Artists Repertory Theatre in 2014, makes his Aurora directing debut with this viciously funny comedy featuring Danny Scheie (The Mystery of Irma Vep), Rod Knapp (The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity), Nancy Carlin (Hysteria), Thomas Gorrebeeck (The Eccentricities of a Nightingale), Tracy Hazas, and Sierra Jolene. THE MONSTER-BUILDER plays November 6 through December 6 at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets ($32-60) and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.

Aurora Theatre Company presents the Bay Area Premiere of Pulitzer Prize finalist (Freedomland) Amy Freed's THE MONSTER-BUILDER. Art Manke, who directed the World Premiere of THE MONSTER-BUILDER at Portland's Artists Repertory Theatre in 2014, makes his Aurora directing debut with this viciously funny comedy featuring Danny Scheie (The Mystery of Irma Vep), Rod Knapp (The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity), Nancy Carlin (Hysteria), Thomas Gorrebeeck (The Eccentricities of a Nightingale), Tracy Hazas, and Sierra Jolene. THE MONSTER-BUILDER plays November 6 through December 6 at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets ($32-60) and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.

To put it succinctly, be ready to laugh your ass off. A brilliant, witty melange of slapstick, sight gags, silly absurdity, hyperbolic acting, and even bits of good ol' reliable audience participation, ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS, Richard Bean's exceedingly hilarious comedy of errors, misdirections, and misunderstandings is now receiving a superb West Coast premiere production at Orange County's Tony Award-winning South Coast Repertory theater through October 11.

Aurora Theatre Company opens its 24th season with the Bay Area Premiere of award-winning playwright Marisa Wegrzyn's (Hickorydickory, The Butcher of Baraboo) MUD BLUE SKY.